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Question on postcards with stamp but no address

  • tdab8
    tdab8 100% (100x)

    6 messages

    Canada

    Hello -

    I collect postcards from turn of the (19th) century and have seen/acquired a number of postcards that have a postage stamp and postmark on the front but no address (or any other added text) on the backside.

    Why would that be and how would that be delivered, if at all? Here is an example of one such postcard, with frontside and backside shown.

    Thank you!!
    board board
  • wycombe1
    wycombe1 100% (84954x)
    premium

    1886 messages

    United Kingdom

    Probably canceled by favour for a dealer or collector of the time.

    At one time is used to be fairly common to buy the postcards and then ship them to a Post Office for them to affix a stamp - cancel it - and return the lot under cover to the sender. Of course one had to pay for such a service - probably with International Reply Coupons which were readily available at Post Offices and could be redeemed by the receiving Post Office anywhere in the World.

    Sadly such services seemed to have vanished though if one travels it is fairly easy to do the same in person. I have had batches of cards stamped and franked in Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Kuwait etc. which are stamped and franked without going through the mails. This is done to preserve the cards so they do not suffer the rigours of handling through the mail system.
  • tdab8
    tdab8 100% (100x)

    6 messages

    Canada

    That explains it.... collectors at the time. Thank you for the info.

    I have a few more questions which I will post later.

    But for now, this is great, so thanks.

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